Awning control mechanism



May 18, 1954 w. G. ARMSTRONG AWNING CONTROL MECHANISM 2 shets-sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1951 /aff May 18, 1954` Filed June 16, 1951 w. G. ARMSTRONG 2,678,687

AWNING CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snventor a f/@M @j om Patented May 18, 1954 "UN-I'IIEDv .STATES PAT ENT O F FICE AWNING .CONTROL MECHANISM Walter vG'rr Armstrong, Lakewood, N. Y.

Application'June 16, 1951, Serial No..231,965

(Cl. 16o-72) 7'Claims. l

This invention relates to awnings formed from strips that are. interlocked in a manner tofacilitate being rolled into and out of position .of use. More particularly, the inventiony relates to structure-by which to enable' the manipulation of such awnings.

Awnings ofthe type to which the invention is more particularly applicable are i formed from a multiplicity of narrow metal strips that are slightly curved in cross section and include suitably rolled side edges that interlock in a manner to permitsidewise rolling into and out of operative position. The strips of such an awning, of course, extend transversely of the direction of operation, oneendmost strip being attached to abuilding wall, or door,or window casing, Aand. the other endmost strip-jointed to a rollerthat is provided with an internal torsion spring which normally urges the awning, in its entirety, into arolled up, out-of-use position.

It has been the practice in providing manipulating mechanisms forawningsof this type to locate them at some exterior position adjacent the awning, thus necessitating the opening of Aa. door or window each time it is desired to roll the awning into` operative or inoperative position. In some instancesthese awnings are applied to.V non-opening windows, suchv as so-called picture windows and, under ksuch circumstances, it becomes necessary to step out of doors in order to roll or unroll the awning. Under such circumstances, desirable and'repeated adjustment of an awning'can only be accomplished at such inconvenience-as to-render its use wholly unsatisfactory. Additionally, even through access to the awning operating mechanism maybe had by opening a window or door, itis apparent that a certain amount of time is required in the' operation of raising or lowering the awning and,

underl adverse weather conditions, snow or rain can-enter the building during this operation. The result of such an inconvenienty operative arrangement for awnings undoubtedly accounts for a certain measure of-sales resistance to the installation of this and other types of awnings.

It is a purpose and object of the kpresent invention to pro-vide a mechanism forV theinside control and operation of exterior awnings of the type that are rolled into and out of position of use.

Another object of the invention lies inthe provision` of a simple and easily installed mecha.- nism 'that includes parts of such proportions and appearance as to be relatively inconspicuons beneath or adjacent an interior Windowor door frame trim.

A further and'impoitant object ofthe invention lies in the provision of an awningoperating control 'that may be installed beneath almost any type of window sill, access thereto being had bythe removal of a concealing cover plate.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be more fully understood from a consideration Vof the following specification, taken. in. conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings; and in which Fig., 1 is a .perspective view of an awning of the rollable slat typey held-in operativepositive by interior control mechanism constituting the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a greatly. enlarged transverse .vertical sectional View of .the lowerportion ofvafwindow frame, fitted with the structure of the invention; Fig. 3 is an end view of a cover plate Athat encloses the awning control cable receiver located beneath the interior sill of a window;

Fig. 4 is afront elevational View of the cover plate shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 isa plan view of the cable receiver with the cover plateremoved;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational viewwith the cover plate partly broken away to disclose certain detailsof` the cable receiver;

Fig. 7 isranenlarged fragmentary View, partly in section and elevation, showing the torsion spring roller and its connection with` the I.awa-- ing controlf'cable; and

Fig. '8 is a transverse sectional View; taken substantiallyfas suggested by the lines-3 8 iof Fig.-7.

Referring more particularly toi the drawmg.

the reference'numeral l0 is employed to :gen-

erally designate an awning toA whichk the present invention is applicable. For tliepurpose-f'of sa clearer understanding of Ythe invention, Iit is .necessary to .show :and describe one particular form'of awning'iound'to be Welt-,suited to manipulativercontrol by the structure'of thepresent invention. The awning i8 is formed'fromfa'plurality of slats Si. Each slat isrelatively-v narrow, extends transversely of vthe 'directionof roll of the awning, and in cross section is slightlybowe'd, substantially'as suggested in Fig. 8. The lower edge of each Slat terminates in a downwardlyor underneath curved flange I2, whereas' the upper edgeis curved to provide av recess i3, together with a. curved interlocking flange Hl. The flange I2 of one slat interiits the ange i4 of the next adiacent'slat, a pair of such interlocked slats beingv edgewise relatively pivotal" to `an extent roller f6.

Purely by way of illustrating one form of mechanism for eifecting rolling the awning, attention is directed to the construction of the roller I6. This roller consists of a tube Il, closed at its ends by caps I8 and i9. Cap I8 is permanently secured to one end of tube Il and includes a central boss 2| that extends into the tube. The end of this cap is centrally recessed to provide a bearing opening for a pin 22. This pin is carried by an end bracket 23 that is joined, in any suitable manner, to one of the two swingable rods 24. Cap le is also secured to the tube I7, the central portion thereof having an opening, the walls of which provide a bearing for a shaft 26. The outer end of this shaft is pinned or keyed to the other bracket 23. The shaft 26 extends substantially the full length of the tube I1 and nds a bearing at its other end in the boss 2|. Adjacent the cap EQ, a collar 2 is pinned or keyed to the shaft 26. A torsion spring 28 encircles the shaft 25 and is secured at one end to the boss 2 i, and at its other end, to the collar 21. From the structure described, it is evident that relative rotation of roller and shaft 25 increases or decreases tension of the spring 28. The other end of each rod 2t, may be mounted for pivotal movement in a bracket 29, attached to the exterior casing IiI of a window 32. The lowermost slat Il is secured in any conventional manner, to the roller IB, whereas the uppermost slat is attached to the header of the casing 3l. It will be evident from the foregoing that with the awning in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the spring 28 under tension, such tension will tend to cause the roller to rotate about shafts 22 and 2E in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 8. Such rotation of the roller and the consequent shortening of the awning, swings rods 24. upwardly against the casing 3l with the awning in a substantially completely rolled up This bracket includes a pair of spaced upstanding iianges 39 which serve to mount the shaft of a pulley 4 I. through which the rolled end 42 of a tube 43 projects. This tube extends completely through the building wall and apron 3B and terminates in a rolled edge 44 on the base plate 46 of a cable receiver lll. The base plate (see Fig. takes the form of an elongated oval and includes a marginal upstanding rim 48. On the exact center of the'base plate is an upstanding post 49 which is drilled and tapped substantially as shown. It will be noted that the rolled end 44 of' the tube 43 is located directly beneath the post 49. Slightly above and to one s'ide of the post 49 is a cable locking iange 5I which, in the present instance, is struck up from the receiver base 46. Substantially midway between the post 49 and the ends of the receiver are cable receiving cleats 52, these cleats being preferably struck up from the base 46. Two or more openings 53 are made in the base 46 to receive screws (not shown) by which to attach said base to the apron 36.

The cable receiver 4l is to be enclosed by a cover 54. This cover comprises a top 56, from which depends a continuous side flange 51. The flange 5'! is so proportioned as to ilt over the flange 48 of the receiver 47. The top 56 carries a locking screw having an exposed knob-like head Centrally of the bracket is an openingy 58 and a screw 59 that projects through an opening in the top into engagement with the threads of the post 49. Any suitable means to secure the screw in place on the cover may be employed such, for example, as the spring pin 6I. The awning cable S2 is extremely flexible and is attached at one end either to the roller I6 or to the lowermost slat II, as found most convenient. This cable extends over the pulley 4I through tube 43 into the interior of a building, and is wrapped around the cleats 52.

For a more complete understanding of the invention it is proposed to briefly describe the operation thereof. It may be assumed that the roller spring 28 is under torsional tension and that the awning Eil is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The spring normally urges the roller to revolve and roll up the awning. However, cable 52 is wedge-locked by ila-nge 5I and engaged with cleats 52. To raise the awning, or, rather, to

allow the awning to be rolled up by releasing the tension of spring 28, the knob 58 of the cover may now be removed to expose the cable receiver. The cable end is grasped by the operatorand unwound from the cleats 52, following which it is disengaged from the wedffing ilange 5I and allowed to pay out through the tube 43. As the slats II are rolled up on the roller I6, the cable* will also he rolled therewith as it is paid out by the operator until the awning has reached its fully raised or out-of-use position. The remaining and now short end of the cable, exposed within a building, is wound around one or both cleats and the cover 5t is replaced and secured.

At any time it is desired to lower or extend the' awning, it is again simply necessary to remove thercover 54 and pull inwardly on the cable. The cable being wound up with the slats effects this unrolling and, when the awning has been ex-4 ing having some form of roll-up mechanism,v and that such mcdications are considered asr being within the 'scope of the invention insofar as they are set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what 'I' claim as new' and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

l. Structure for the interior control of a spring rolled awning comprising a cable attached at one' end to the spring roller of said awning, a tubu' lar member projecting through a portion of 'a building wall beneath said awning, a cable re? ceiver secured to one end of said member, a cable fastener on said receiver, a cover plate for said receiver and means for removably securing said plate on said receiver.

2. Structure for the manipulation and control of a spring rolled awning comprising a cable at-w tached at one end to said awning, a cable receiver, means for receiving and directing said cableto the central portion of said receiver, a cable locking flange on said receiver, cleats on said receiver for supporting slack cable, and a removable cover completely enclosingl said receiver and the ca-ble thereon.

3. Structure for the interior manipulation and control of an exterior spring rolled awning comprising a cable having one end attached to said awning and rollable and unrollable therewith, a cable receiver, a tube opening at one end in said receiver and providing direction of said cable from said awning to said receiver, a cable locking flange on said receiver adjacent said tube end, cleats on sai-:l receiver for supporting portions of said cable when slack, a removable cover completely enclosing said receiver, and means for securing said cover on said receiver.

4. An awning control cable receiver adapted to be mounted on an interior building wall comprising a base plate, a cable receiving tube having one open end joined to the central part of said receiver, a cable projecting through said tube, a cable wedging and locking iiange on said receiver adjacent said tube end, cleats on said plate for supporting portions of said cable when slack, a removable cover enclosing said plate, and means for securing said cover on said receiver.

5. An awning control cable receiver adapted to be mounted on an interior building wall comprising a base plate, a cable receiving tube extending through said building wall and having one open end extending through said plate, a cable projecting through said tube, a rim on said plate, an upstanding post located centrally of said plate and having a threaded opening therein, opposed cleats on said plate supporting portions of said cable when slack, a cover enclosing said post and cleats, the sides of said cover overlying said plate rim, a screw carried by and projecting through said cover, said screw being engageable with said threaded opening.

6. An awning control cable receiver adapted to be mounted on an interior building wall comprising a base plate, a cable receiving tube extending through said building wall and having one open end extending through said plate a cable projecting through said tube, a rim on said plate, an upstanding centered post on said plate and having a threaded opening therein, a cable locking flange adjacent the open end of said tube, a pair of cleats for engagement by a portion of said cable when slack, said flange and cleats being formed from said plate, a cover having walls receiving and enclosing the entire structure of said plate, a screw carried by and projecting through the top of said cover, said screw being rotatable to engage or disengage the threads of said opening in said post.

7. An awning control comprising a cable, a cable guide and receiver adapted to be mounted on an interior wall of a building comprising a roller guide on the exterior face of said wall, a cable receiver on the interior face of said Wall, a cable receiving tube extending through said wall. the ends of said tube opening at said guide and said receiver a cable projecting through said tube into said receiver, said receiver including a base plate, a central upstanding post on said plate, said post having a threaded end opening, cleats adjacent opposite ends of said plate, a cable locking flange adjacent the receiver tube end, said flange and cleats being arranged to lock said cable and secure the slack portion thereof, a cover for said receiver, walls of said cover enclosing the entire structure of said receiver and the portion of said cable secured to said cleats, and a screw carried by the top of said cover, said screw including an exterior head and an interior shank, said shank being engageable with the threads of said post opening.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 794,916 Barrett July 18, 1905 1,249,371 Freeberg Dec. 11, 1917 1,327,591 Charles Jan. 6, 1920 1,418,860 Auermiller .Tune 6, 1922 1,491,909 Harris Apr. 29, 1924 1,570,291 Van Alstine Jan. 19, 1926 1,663,104 Wales Mar. 20, 1928 1,804,798 Nelson May 12, 1931 2,233,515 Burke Mar. 4, 1941 2,323,612 Lombardi July 6, 1943 2,449,464 Eypper Sept. 14, 1948 2,565,339 Anderson Aug. 21, 1951 2,582,787 Martin Jan. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,315 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1903 

